When people talk about the family budget, they often make the mistake of believing it is about money. A real family budget has to do with the ability to find time for everything that needs to be done, and it is a way to carve out time for the activities the family can enjoy together. Making great memories is more important than how often the oven gets cleaned, but some people might fail to see it that way. When they are single parents or caretakers for their families, the pressure to do what they believe is necessary is often great.
Finding a new partner after a divorce or while taking care of elderly parents is often shunted to the end of the time list, but it should not be a neglected area of life. Parents want their children to be happy, and they want to see them in a good relationship even if they need help. They will work with their children to try and make it easy for them to date, and they will often be able to find options because they have a deep concern for their child.
Divorced parents are generally torn with the need to support and care for their children properly, and they believe they must take the place of their missing partner. While it is true that the children need care, it is important not to make them into a burden or a shield against dating. Keeping their needs in the proper perspective will allow time to date at least occasionally.
There are no easy answers when a single person’s life is already full of commitments, but finding the right life partner is still important. It takes a great deal of shifting the family budget around to make extra time, but it makes the sacrifices worth it in the end.
